Rain-water filter



7, 1930. LEROY w. FRENCH RAIN WATER FILTER Filed Sept. 6, 1928 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EE' 1E P I E. l.

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Oct. 7, 1930. LEROY w. FRENCH 1,777,509

RAIN WATER FILTER F1165 Spt. 1928 2 ShGOtB-ShO't 2 LERUY WFR swan. $22925; 6m. wwwwfl Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED, STATES LEROY W. rnnnon, or BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOISQ RAIN-WATER FILTER Application filed September 6', 1928.

The present invention is a modification casing and tostrengthen the structure gen-- erally with the result-that the structure as a whole is simplified and strengthened.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rain water filter embodying my invention, part of the front of the casing being shown as broken away to expose underlying parts; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same filter; Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the perforated and partly reinforced shelf which supports a body of gravel in the filter; Fig. l is a top plan of the sheet metal blank from which the-perforated shelf is formed. In this view the contraction of the element during the process of manufacture is indicated by dotted lines; Fig.- 5 is a diagrammatic top view of the contracted shelf; for the sake of clearness the perforations are not shown in this view; Fig. 6 is a vertical lengthwise section through the same shelftaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through the same shelf taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5; Fig. Sis an inside view of one overflow duct, in elevation; Fig. 9 is an enlarged isometric view showing a fragment of one tray-supporting bar; Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a horizontal section, to reduced scale, on the line 1111 of Fig. 1, with the basket removed, to show the cross bars upon which the basket rests; and Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 8. Similar reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views. 7 i

The casing, designated as a whole by the Serial No. 304,306.

numeral 16, is a box-like upright sheet metal structure.

A perforated and corrugated gravel-supporting element 17 is supported in a horizontal position in the casing by means to be described later. A movable shelf 18 is supported, a suitable distance above the element 17 The space between the elements 17 and 18 is filled by gravel 19 or other suitable heavyv filtering material; The shelf 18- is covered to a sufficient depth, by a layer of charcoal 20, or other relatively small and light filtering material.

The main structure of the filter is similar to the structure shown in my said patent and therefore need. not. be'described in detail. The present invention relates only to certain improved details of construction now to be described, which are of very considerable practical utility and contribute to strengthen the filter and reduce the cost of manufacture.

The perforated gravel-supporting element 17 is made from a single fiat metal blank 21 (Fig. 4) punched to form arcuate notches 22, one at each end of the plate, and pressed to :form transverse arcuate ribs 23,- and to form concavo-convex lengthwise members 24 strengthening the ribs 28. It is to .bennderstood that the blank will be perforated in 'order' to produce the perforated element 17.

Upon reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the'length of the blank is considerablygreater than the length of the pressed plate, and'its width at the two ends is considerably greater than the width of the ends of the pressed plate. In order that the pressed gravel-supporting .element may be easily inserted in the casing the width of its 'middle part will be slightly less than the inside width of the casing.

The. shortening of the plate during the process of manufacture is brought about by the forming of the transverse ribs 23. The transverse contraction of the terminal parts of the plate is accomplished during the forming'of the tapered corrugations 24. In other words the width of the plate is reduced more at and near its ends thanat its intermediate parts, with the result" that the plate may be easily inserted in the casing; The notches 22 in the blank 21 are so desi ned that they will fit around the periphery 0% the upright overflow ducts 25 when the shelf has been pressed to its final form.

A number of rivets 26 of suitable size and length extend inwardly throughv holes punched in the walls of the casing. The rivets are soldered in the punched holes in the Walls, and support the element 17 in a horizontal position.

The shape of the woven wire shelf. 18 (Fig. 1) is practically the same as the shape of the element 17 and has notches the same as the notches 22 in the member 17, to conform to the outer surface of the ducts25. A number of rivets 27 of suitable size and suitable length extend inwardly through holes punched in the walls'of the-casing and are soldered in the punched holes and support the shelf 18in a horizontal position.

Two .upright concavo-convex sheet metal elements 25 (Figs. .1, 2, and 8) are placed against the two opposite walls of the ca ing, with their concave sides next. to the walls, thus forming overflow ducts, the pur+ pose of which is to allow escape of water into the lower chamber of the casing in the-- eventofabnorma'l depth of water, above the filter bed. The elements 25 have near their lower ends notches 28; and members 29 below the notches and 41 above the notches are expanded somewhat-to form protruding lips. When the parts are assembled, the corners l2 on both sides of the notches 22 ofthe shelf 17, enter the cuts or notches 28 of the duct elements 25. The weight of the duct elements is thus supported on the shelf 17 .by the engagement of the lips 41 with theupper surface of'the shelf;and the duct elements are held against. upward vertical movement, by the engagement of the lips 29/ with .the under surface of the shelf. As previously explained, the shelf 17 tests on top of the inwardly protruding ends of the rivets 26. The arcuate edges of the shelf 18 also press against the outer surface of theduct elements and 'holdathemin close contact with .the inner surface of the walls of thecasing- When thefiltering material (1Y9 and 20.) is in place ontheshelves, it becomes packed around the duct elements and further secures them in place. "When the fil- --tering material is removed from the shelves they can be lifted out andthe ducts'inay then be taken out and cleaned; after cleanling, the ducts and shelves can be easily and quickly. reassembled in the casing.

'Two parallel. sheet metalbars I30 1 (Figs.

2,19, 10 and ill) support the basket in the cabinet. Each bar :is formed from a strip of sheet zmetal-by pressing-it into the shape of a channel having two len thwise corrugations 31 and downwardly extending flange as memherswnas shown 1n cross sectionin Fig.

so clinched, at 32- in Figs. 9 and 10. This structure strengthens the casing against collapsing and spreading and also forms a dependable support for the basket.

The wire basket 39 is adapted to fit loosely inside of the casing and is supported on the bars 30. A strainer-fabric 40 of cheese-cloth, or the like, lines the basket. and serves to strain the water passing through the basket. The strainer-fabric may be attached to the basket by any suitable means.

Havin fully described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A unitary perforated structure for the support of filtering material, comprising end members having longitudinal tapered corrugations; a flat middle member; and transverse arched members between said middle member and saidend members and adjoining ing rivets, fixed in the walls of said case in three tiers; sheet-metal channel bars having longitudinal ridges and downwardly posed flanges, adapted to rest upon the rivets of the uppermost tier ,whereby to detachably support said first filter element; a pervious fiat shelf, removable from said case, notched at both ends and adapted to rest upon the rivets of the second tier, whereby to support said second filter element,a ribbed shelf, of perforated sheet-metal, removable from said case, notched at both ends, and adapted to rest upon the rivet-s of the lowermost tier, whereby to support said thirdfilter element; and

removable sheet-metal overflow duct elements adapted to beheld by the notches of said shelves in operative relation to said first and second filter elements.

' 4.-Means for detachably supporting "the filteringelements in the-case of a filter, comprising: a plurality of inwardly projecting rivets in the wallsof said case, arranged in too horizantal tiers; a pervious, corrugatqed shelf, adapted to rest upon the lowermost tier of rivets, whereby to support a lower bed of filtering material a'secondary, pervious shelf adapted to rest upon an intermediate tier of rivets, whereby to support an intermediate bed of filtering material; and a pair of sheetmetal channel beams having theirends adapted to restupon the rivets of the uppermost tier, whereby to support a pervious filtering basket above said intermediate filtering material, each of said beams having upwardly pressed longitudinal ribs adapted to stiffen the beam, and having channels beneath said ribs adapted to receive the projecting ends of said rivets, and having downwardly extending longitudinal flanges adapted to be clinched around said rivets.

5. In a water filter having a. metal case, the combination of: upper and lower sets of rivets fixed in the vertical walls of said case with the ends of said rivets protruding inwardly; a sheet-metal shelf adapted to support a filter bed on the lowermost set of rivets; and sheet metal beams adapted to support a straining basket, on the uppermost set of rivets, said beams having downwardly projecting flanges adapted to be clinched around said rivets to hold saidbeams securely in place in said case.

6. The combination of: a filter case; a lower shelf, having a notch at each end, removably supported in said case; an upper shelf, having a corresponding notch at each end, removably supported in said case; and a pair of removable duct elements conformed to the notches in both shelves and adapted to be held against the walls of said case in a substantially vertical position by contact with said notched shelves, each of said duct elements having cuts near its lower end adapted to receive the edges of the lower shelf, where by to support the weight of said duct element and prevent vertical movement thereof.

7. A supporting structure for filtering material, formed from a single rectangular blank of perforated sheet metal by: notching the two ends of said rectangular blank to accommodate removable overfiow ducts; forming a pair of parallel, transverse ribs in said rectangular blank; and forming tapered, longitudinal ribs from said transverse ribs to the ends of said blank, thereby stiffening the completed structure and reducing the terminal width thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Bloo-mington, McLean County, State of Illinois, this 17th day of August,

LEROY W. FRENCH. 

